latta



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. G. LATTA.

BIGYGLE.

Patented. July 1,1884;

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N. PETERS Plmmum E. G. LATTA.

BIGYGLE.

No. 301,245. Patented July '1, 1884.

(No Modem' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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(No Model.) 4

E. G. LATTA. BIUYGLE.

Patented July l, 1884.

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lilrtirnn @trarne Farmer @ri-rien@ EMMIT G. IiAllllA, OF FRIENDSHIP, NEVYORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ADRIAN C. LATTA, OF SAME PLAGE.

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SPECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,245, dated July 1,1684.

Application filed July 27, 1853. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, of

Friendship, in the county of Allegany,l and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, of which the followingis a specification. The object of this invention is to produce a light,strong, and durable wheel in which the desired te'nsion can be readilygiven to the spokes, and in which both bearings can be simultaneouslyadj usted for wear, and in which the bearings can adjust themselves tothe position of the fork.

My invention also relates to a novel construction of a sectional handle,whereby both parts of the handle are rigidly secured in the desiredposition.

My invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafterfully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the acconipanying` drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figures 1,2, and 3 are vertical fragment-ary cross sections of the steeringhead,wheel, and axle. Figs. 4 and 5 are crosssections in lines .fr x and y/y, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross-section in line c c, Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the bearing. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the upper end of the steering-head. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal section of a portion of the rim. Fig. 10 represents amodified construction of the bearing. Fig. 11 is an end elevation of thedivided washer on an enlarged scale. Fig. 12 is aseotional elevation ofthe same. Fig. 13 is alongitudinal section of the axle, representing amodified construction ofthe device for adjusting the bearing. Figs. l-l,15, and 16 are fragmentary sectional elevations of the hub, showingvarious applications of the screwjoint whereby the spokes are adjusted.Fig. 17 is a cross-section in line ai, 13. Fig. 18 is a cross-section inline .e rc, Fig. 11. Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section of thescrew-joint on an enlarged scale.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the hollow central part of the axle, A A', Vthe endportions of the axle, seated in the ends of the hollow portion A, and A2A the cranks formed in one piece with the end 5o portions, A.

B B represent the hubs secured to the hollow central part, A, of theaxle near both ends by keys l) and screw-nuts b'. rlhese keys also serveto prevent the end portions, A, of the 5 5 axle from turning in thehollow portion A, the inner ends of the end portions, A, being madeflat, as shown at b2, to engage with said keys in such manner that theend portions, A, can move lengthwise in the hollow portion A, 6o butcannot turn therein. i

C C represent the arms of the fork, and c c lugs or shanks secured tothe lower ends of the arms C, and terminating in semicircular jaws C.

D represents annular bearing boXes, arranged between the jaws C', andprovided on their inner sides with annular grooves d, in which arearranged balls D.

c represents semi-spherical, conical, or sinii- 7o lar projectionsformed, respectively, on the -upper and lower sides of the bearing-boxesD,

and forming ljournals or pivots on which the bearing-boxes can turn.

E represents a bearing-piece of hardened 75 steel or similar metal,seated in the shank c at the junction of the jaws C/ C", and provided onits under side with a semi-spherical, conical, or other recess, in whichthe upper pivot c of the adjacent bearing-box D turns. 8o

E represents a bearing-piece arranged below each bearing-box D, andprovided on its upper side with a recess, in which the lower pivot c ofthe adjacent bearing-box turns. The sides ofthe bearing-piece l(converge 85 downwardly, and the adjacent faces c2 of the jaws C alsoconverge downwardly, as clearly represented in Figs. 6 and 7.

f represents a vbolt or screw, which passes through the lower ends ofthe jaws C G and 9o the bearing-piece E, whereby the lower ends j of thejaws are drawn together, and the bearing-piece lll is forced upwardlyagainst the bearing-box D and the latter against the bearing-piece E.The bearing-boxes D are loosely 95 fitted in the jaws and bear only atthe pivots c, so that the boxes can turn freely on their pivots andadjust themselves lto the position of the fork-arms when the latter arethrown out of line, thereby avoiding cramping orbinding of the bearingson the axle. By adjusting the screw or boltf a snug fit ofthe pivots ein their sockets can be maintained. The opening f' in thebearing-piece/E', through which the bolt f passes, is made larger thanthe bolt, so that the bearing-piece E' can move on the bplt, bothvertically and horizontally, as the bearing-box is adjusted on the axle.

g represents the inner cone bearings or collars, which rest against theouter ends of the hollow central portion, A, of the axle, and bear withtheir outer conical faces against the balls D.

g' represents the outer cone-bearings, which are seated with their outersides against the hubs of the cranks A2, and bear with their innerconical faces against the balls D'.

G representsk the adjusting-rod, which extends through an opening formedlengthwise through the axle. The rod G isl provided at one end with ahead, G', which is seated in a recess in the outer face of one of theaxles, and the opposite end of the adjusting-rod isv provided with ascrew-thread, to which a screw-nut, G2, is applied, which is seated in arecess in the outer face ofthe adjacent crank. Upon tightening thescrew-nut G2, the end portions, A', ofthe axle are drawn toward eachother, thereby drawing the outer conebearing, g', inwardly and adjustingboth bearings simultaneously. The adjusting-rod G may be tightenedeither by turning the screwnut GL or the head G', the latter beingprovided with a slot for the insertion of a screwdriver. rIhe head G'and screw-nut G2 are se'cured in position, after having been adjusted',by screws g2 03, passed, respectively,

through the head G' and screw-nut G2, and engaging in threaded openingsformed in the axle and cranks.

As represented in Figs. 3, 6, and 7, the jaws C' are formed in one piecewith the shank c; but, if preferred, thejaws may be made separate'andattached to the shank c by a horizontal bolt, y, as represented in Fig.l0, whereby a universal adjustment is provided for the bearings, and thelower bearing-piece E may be omitted, if desired, and the socket for thelower pivot be formed directly in the jaws -C' C', as represented inFig. l0. Any looseness which may exist in the bearings is dividedbetween both bearings by the adj Listing-rod G, thereby causing thewheel to run steady, and reducing the wear on the bearings. The nut Gmay be dispensed with by screwing the threaded end of the adjusting-rodG into a threaded opening formed in the adjacent end portion, A', of theaxle, but this construction is not so desirable, because it involves theuse of right'and left hand portions, one being different from the other.Vhen the axle is constructed in one piece, as represented in Fig. 13,the adjusting-rod G can be connected with the bearings by enlarging thehead G' and screw-nut G2, so as to extend beyond the axle, andconnecting the head G' Yand screw-nut G2 with the outer cone-bearings,g', by sliding pins or bolts It, arranged in longitudinal openingsformed in the hubs of the cranks, which latter are in this case securedto the axle by keys or other well-known means. The cranks may be mountedon the axle so as to be capable of lengthwise movement on the same, andthe ends of the shifting-rod may be connected with the movable cranks soas to draw the latter against the outer cone-bearings. This method ofadjustment may be applied to the rear wheel as well as to thedriving-wheel. The bearing-boxes D may be reversed to bring their lowersides above the balls when the upper part of the groove in thebearing-box has become worn, and as the wear is principally on the upperside ofthe bearing-box lthis construction 'of the box nearly doubles thelife of the saine.

I I are the iianges of the hubs B.

J represents the spokes.

K represents the metallic rim of the wheel, and L the rubber tire.

The spokes J are made in two parts having their ends provided withscrewthreads, one being a right-hand and the other a left-hand thread.Both parts are connected by a screwsleeve, j, provided with internalright and left hand screw-threads adapted to engage with thescrew-'threads on the ends of the spoke.

The ends `of the spoke.are cut away so that they lap by each other whenthe spoke is tightened, as shown at j', and the fragmentaryscrew-threads on the flattened end portions of IOO the spoke are jammedor stripped as the sleeve p through the opening in the iiange I of thehub B and provided with a head, j, on the inner side of the fiange Thehead j2 is preferably iiattened on one side, to rest against the outerside of the hub, thereby preventing the inner end of the spoke fromturning. The other part of the spoke is passed through an opening in therim K, and provided with a head, Z, on the outer side of the rim, asclearly represented Ain Fig. 2. In order to present a neat appearance,the 4screwsleeves j are preferably arranged against the vouter sides ofthe fianges I, the inner ends of the sleeves projecting into sockets j,formed in the outer faces of the flanges I. By turning the sleeves j soas to draw the two parts of the spoke together, the proper tension isgiven to the spokes. rEhe inner portions ofthe spoke may be constructedin the form of a U or staple, as represented in Fig. 6, both legs oftheIIO staple being screw-threaded, and each staple connected with twospokes 5 or one spoke may be bent through two of the openings 13 in theflange I, and another spoke may be connected with the bent spoke by thescrewjoint above described, so that one screw-sleeve will tighten twospokes, as represented in Fig. lil.. The openings through the flange Imay be made large enough to pass the screw-sl eeve j th rough them, andin this case the inner end of the spoke is provided with a shoulderadjacent to the head j '2, whereby the inner end ofthe spoke is centeredin the opening. The rim K is constructed of a strip of sheet or rolledmetal,

with its edges overlapping each other on the inner side of the rubbertire L, as clearly rcpresented in Fig. 2. rlhe lapped edges of the rimare brazed together, and the riin possesses two thicknesses of metal onits outer side, whereby theheads of the spokes are supported, and it istherefore less liable to buckle or get out of shape than ordinary rims.rIhe outer headed ends of the spokes are secured to the rim by iiangedwashers 7c, which iill the holes formed in the rim around the spokes,and prevent the heads of the spokes from drawing through these holes.The'holes in the rim can be lnade large enough to permit the heads ofthe spokes to pass through them, thereby avoiding the necessity ofheading the spokes after they are passed through the rim. The washer maybe divided, as represented in Fig. 1l, so that it can be clasped aroundthe spoke on the innerwside of its head after the headed end has beenpassed through the opening in the rim or it may be made solid and passedover the spoke before heading it, to permit a buttended spoke to be putthrough the same.

M represents the steering-head, and N N the handle-bars, secured in alug, m, formed on the steering-head. rIhe inner ends of the handle-barsN N are provided with screwthreads n a, one being a right-hand and theother a left-hand thread, and the inner portions of the threaded endsare cut away or made i'lat to lap by each other, as shown at n2. Thehandle-bar N is provided with a conical or tapering shoulder, o, whichiits in a corresponding socket, o, formed in one end of the hollow lugin..

I? represents ascrew-sleeve, which surrounds the inner end of thehandle-bar N and iits snugly in the bore of the lng m. rIhe sleeve I) isconstructed with a conical or tapering shoulder, p, fitting in acorresponding socket, p', formed in the adjacent end of the lug m. Thescrew-thread in the sleeve I is a right and left handthread, adapted toengage with the right and left hand threads a n of the handlebars N N.

In order to secure the handle-bars tothe steering-head, the bar N isinserted into the lug m, the sleeve P is inserted in the lug from theopposite end and its screw-thread started on the threaded end n of thehandlebar N. The handle-bar Nis then introduced into the opposite endol" theslceve, and its seiner-thread w. started in the thread ol.' thesleeve. Upon turning theslecve l? by a wrench applied to its outer end,the two handle-bars are drawn together until their inner ends overlapand the conical shohlders are tightened in the ends of the lug mi.

For bent or dropped handle-bars the end of the sleeve may be made tomatch the shoulder 'on the handle-bar N, and the handles themselves maybe used to tighten the parts, and by turning the sleeve to the desiredpoint for tightening the bars, the bars can be set to hold the bent endsat any desired angle. This adjustment permits either bar to be quicklyremoved when required for replacing or adjusting either of the parts, orfor storing or shipping the machine, and keeps both ends of a benthandle-bar at the same angle.

I am aware that a rod or bar has been passed through the axle of thewheel for securing the cranks and other parts to the axle, and this I donot claim.

I claim as my invention l. The combination, with an axle, of bearingscapable of adjustment in the direction ol the axle, and a bar or rodpassing through the axle, whereby both bearings are simultaneouslyadjusted, substantially as set forth.

2. rlhe combination, with an axle having movable end portions and aconnecting central portion, of bearings capable of adjustment in thedirection of the axle, and a bar or rod passing through the axle andconnecting the movable end portions, whereby the bearings are adjusted,substantially as set forth.

3. In a bicycle ortricycle, the combination, with a fork provided withtwo bearings, and a shaft supported in said bearings, of bearingboxeshaving pivots on their upper :and lower sides, on which the boxes canadjust themselves in the arms of the fork when said arms are thrown outof line, substantially as set forth.

4. rIhe combination, with the fork or frame having jaws C C', of abearing-box having pivots on its upper and lower sides, and meanswhereby the box can be adjusted 'vertically between the jaws (1 I,substantially as set forth.

rIhe combination, with the fork or frame having jaws C C', provided withinclined ends ci, of'a bearing-box having pivots c on its upper andlower sides, and atapering block, E', supporting the lower pivot andarranged between the inclined ends of the jaws G, substantially as setforth.

(i. The eo1nbination,with the fork. or frame, of an annular bearing-boxhaving projections or pivots on its upper and lower sides, and madevertically reversible in the fork or frame, substantially as set forth.

7. In a wheel, the combination, with a spoke composed of two parts,having their ends provided, respectively, with right and left handscrew-threads, and made to overl ap cach other,

IOO

IIO

of a screw-sleeve eonneeting the threaded ends ofthe spoke,substantially as set forth.

8. A wheel-rim Consisting ot' a single strip of sheet metal bent toforni a hollow rim, and having its overlapping edges arranged on theouter side ot' the r1' m, substantially as set forth.

`9. A hollow wheel-rim eoinposed of a single strip of sheet metalconstructed with overlapping edges secured together, substantially asset forth.

10. The eornbination,with a headed spoke, of a rim having an openinglarge enough to permit the head of the spoke to pass through it, andadivided Washer adapted to be closed around the spoke and to prevent itshead from vdrawing through the opening in the rim, substantially as setforth.

11. The combination, with the steeringe EMMIT G. LATTA. Vitnesses:

S. M. N ORTON,

F. B. CHURCH.

